Breed AppearanceThe curl in Devon Rex fur is caused by a different mutation and gene than that of the Cornish Rex and German Rex, and breeding of a Devon with
either of those cats results in cats without rexed (curled) fur. Devons, which are medium sized cats, are often called "pixie cats" or "alien cats" because of their
unique appearance. Their uncommonly large, slightly rounded ears are set low on the sides of their wide heads, their eyes are large, and their noses are slightly
upturned. Unlike most cats, their whiskers are very short and often curled to such an extent that it may appear as if they have no whiskers. Their body type is
distinctly lightly built. Their long, sturdy legs are well suited for long leaps, and their toes are unusually large.

Breed DescriptionHead: Fairly small, wedge-shaped, short, angular. Flat skull, domed forehead. Full cheeks, prominent cheekbones. Short
muzzle. Short nose. Well-marked stop (u). Large chin. Well-marked whisker pinch. Curly, fairly harsh whiskers and eyebrows
of medium length.Eyes: Large, oval, well-spaced, set at an angle toward the outer edge of the ear. Luminous, clear, pure color corresponding
to that of the coat.Neck: Moderately long, thin, slightly arched.Body: Medium in size and length. Broad chest. Firm, strong muscles.Paw: Long, thin. Hind legs clearly longer than forelegs. Fine- to medium-boned. Muscular. Small, oval paws.Tail: Long, slender, tapering, well-furnished with short hair.Coat: Short, fine, kinked, wavy hair with or without guard hairs. Coat not as neat as that of the Cornish Rex, but
slightly wild like that of a Poodle or sheep. Some Devon Rexes have only down on the belly. As in the Cornish Rex,
the hair grows slowly. All colors and patterns are allowed, with or without black.Fault: Narrow head like that of the Oriental Shorthair or broad head like that of the British Shorthair. Small,
high-set eyes. Small eyes. Stocky body. Short, hairless or shaggy tail. Close-lying coat. Wiry or smooth hair. Large,
hairless areas.

HistoryA funny little guy with a lambswool coat and bat ears In 1960 in Devon, England, Ms. Beryl Cox found a curly-coated
male cat in a litter of feral cats living in an abandoned mine. This male was bred with a tricolor female, who gave
birth to a curly-coated male that Cox named Kirlee. Kirlee was then bred with Cornish Rex cats, the resulting kittens
had very straight hair, indicating that the two genes responsible for these two mutations, that of the Devon Rex and that
of the Cornish Rex, were different and recessive. In an effort to pin down the mutant Devon Rex gene, Kirlee was extensively
inbred. Unfortunately, this led to the appearance, in some lines, of a fatal hereditary disease known as spasticity. But the
breed has been closely monitored, and American and French breeders have worked together to breed healthy individuals with
carefully planned pedigrees. The Devon Rex was officially recognized by the F.I.Fe. in 1967. In the United States, the breed
was not distinguished from the Cornish Rex until after 1979. It is recognized by the C.F.A. and by T.I.C.A., which published a
standard in 1988.

BehaviorThe Devon Rex is a lively, playful, acrobatic cat but is a bit less active than the Cornish Rex. Naturally cheerful and independent, Devon
Rexes are friendly toward other cats and toward dogs. They hate being left alone. Very affectionate and sensitive, they are pleasant companions
with soft, quiet voices. Kittens develop quickly. The coat does not attain its adult appearance until about 6 months. Daily brushing is
enough to maintain the Devon's coat. Devons hardly shed at all. They must be bathed regularly, since they sweat and their ears produce a great
deal of wax. The pedigree should be examined closely in order to avoid the risk of spasticity.

HealthInitially the Devons were heavily inbred simply to establish a pool from which to work. The toll of inbreeding had begun manifesting
in genetic problems present in the general feline population, but concentrated in Devons through the inbreeding. In addition, a neurological condition
causing muscle spasticity appeared in very low numbers, but apparently only in Devons. The focus turned to hybridization through total outcross. Outcrossing is
still actively done to insure a healthy breed with a wide and diverse gene pool, and it is working! The currently accepted outcrosses in CFA are the American
Shorthair and the British Shorthair, although many different breeds were used initially. As mentioned earlier, the Rex gene is a simple recessive, and thus
the labor of an outcross hybrid program is truly a labor of love for the breed, as all first generation kittens will be straight, and on average, 50% of all
second generation kittens will be straight.

Another problem that surfaced was parental blood incompatibilities resulting in the death of kittens. Many
Devons were found to carry Type A blood, while others carry Type B blood. When an "A" male was bred to a "B" female, the mother's milk would contain antibodies
against the kittens' own blood and result in the death of the kittens. All breeding Devons are now blood typed, and if a breeding such as the above occurs, the
kittens are hand fed every two hours until the gut closes internally and they can handle the antibodies on their own.